Trace-fastener.



No. 703,32. i Patentedlune 24, |902. c. w. L c. H. THBELKELD.

TRACE FASTENER.

(Application led Mar. 13, 1902.)

(No Model.)

lill o 7g I UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALVERT XVOODFORD THRELKELD AND COLIN I-IODGE THRELKELD, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

TRACEFASTENER.`

SFEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,321, dated June 24, 1902.

Application filed March 13, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, CALVERT WooDEoRD THRELKELD and COLIN Hopen THRELKELD, citizens of the United States, residing at Mem-V phis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Trace-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to trace-fasteners arranged to retain a trace upon a single or double tree; and the object thereof is to provide a structu re Which is extremely simple and inexpensiveand that will securely hold a trace upon a whiflietree and prevent its movement in either direction thereon, said fastener being readily operable to release the trace and being arranged With relation to the whiiiietree so that it is held against accidental displacement thereon.

The preferred construction of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a Whifietree, showing the improved fastener applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the same, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view.

Similar'numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin all the gu res of the drawmgs.

The Whiffletree is designated by the refer'- ence-numeral l0 and is made in the ordinary form, being tapered toward its end. This end is provided with a pair of longitudinallydisposed sockets 11 and 12, the outer of which is tapered toward its lower end, as shown in Fig. 2. The fastener is preferably made of spring-Wire having one end formed into a fastening-stem 13, that is passed through the whiflietree on the inner side of the sockets, and having its terminal offset embedded in the whiiletree, as shown at 14. Upon the opposite end of this stem is arranged a coiledspring portion 15, from which extends a shank 16, that is located longitudinally of and in spaced relation to the whiftletree. The free end of this shank carries an inset holdingloop 17, that is movably mounted in the inner or loop socket 11, the side arms of said loop constituting holding-shoulders 18. From the outer portionY of this loop projects a guidei Serial No. 98,075. (No model.)

finger 19, that is disposed at an inclination to the adjacent face of the whiffletree and has its outer end arranged in the outer orflnger socket 12. The outward movement of the trace-fastener is limited by a stop-pin 20, that extends across the inner or loop socket 11, above the loop, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The operation of the device will be readily apparent. When a trace is placed upon the end of the Whiffietree and moved longitudinally thereon, it will ride over the inclined guide-finger 19, thereby depressing the same and moving it into its socket 12. The holding-loop will in like manner be moved into the socket 11 until the trace alines there` with,whereupon the fastenerwill again spring outwardly, with the holding-shoulders 18 on opposite sides of the trace. Said trace will therefore be securely heldagainst movement in either direction upon the whiffletree; but when it is desired to remove the same it is only necessary to depress the holder or fastening device by bearing upon the shank 16., whereupon the trace may be readily moved over the guide-finger 19.

The advantages for this construction may be summed up as follows: In the first place the structure is extremely inexpensive, being composed of Wire and being capable of being bent to properform at slight cost. The guidefinger and holding-loop being located in their respective sockets prevent lateral movement of the fastener with respect to the whiffletree, so that it must necessarily retain its proper relation. The stop-pin 2O prevents the outward movement of the loop, and thus insures the same being maintained in the socket.

From 'the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without further descriptlon, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

IOO

l. In a trace-fastener, the Combination with arwhifiietree having a socket, of a spring traceholder mounted upon the Whiietree and having. an inwardly extending trace receiving loop, the inner end of which is movably mounted in the socket, said loop being held thereby against lateral displacement.

2. In a trace-fastener, the combination with awhiiiletree having a socket, of a. trace-holder secured to the Whiffletree on the inner side of the socket, said trace-holder having an inwardly-extendin g trace-receiving loop, the inner end of which is movably mounted in the socket, and an inclined guide-finger projecting from the outer side of the trace-receiving loop.

3. In a trace-fastener, the combination With a Whiftletree having a pair of longitudinallydisposed sockets arranged in alinement, of a spring trace-holder secured to the Whittletree on the inner side of the inner socket, said trace-holder comprising a shank disposed in spaced relation to the Whifletree and having a trace-receiving loop at its outer end that is movably located in the inner socket, and an inclined guide finger projecting from the outer end of the loop and movable in the outer socket.

4. In a trace-fastener, the combination with a Whitlletree having a socket, of a spring traceholder mounted upon the Whiffletree and having an inset trace-receiving loop that is movably mounted in the socket, and a stop extending across the socket and engaging the loop to limit the outward movement thereof.

5. In a trace-fastener, the combination with a Whitletree having a longitudinally-disposed socket, of a trace-holder mounted upon the Whiffletree and comprising a fastening-stem passing through said whiffietree on the inner side of the socket, a coiled spring located at the end of the stem, a Shank arranged longitudinally of and in spaced relation to the Whifetree, an inset loop portion movably located in the socket, and an inclined guidetinger projecting from the outer end of the loop portion.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence ot' two Witnesses.

CALVERT WOODFORD THRELKELD. COLIN HODGE THRELKELD.

Witnesses:

C. M. TUGGLE, G. W. MOORE. 

